If you’re a college basketball fan, this is your favorite time of year. March Madness is in full swing. That means a full schedule of games every weekend, buzzer-beating finishes and unbelievable upsets. If you’re like many fans, your bracket is already a mess.
 
It’s nearly impossible to predict the outcome of the NCAA Tournament. According to a Duke University professor, the odds of predicting a perfect bracket are 1 in 2.4 trillion.1 Even getting the Final Four correct can be difficult: In last year’s Capital One Bracket Challenge, only 54 entries had the Final Four teams correct.2
 
It may also feel like it’s impossible to predict the movement of the financial markets. The major indexes can swing in any direction on any given day, influenced by an infinite number of events and updates from around the world. In the short term, it’s virtually impossible to predict where the markets are headed.
 
But can you use the winner of the NCAA Tournament to make a market prediction? Researchers from Schaeffer’s Investment Research recently studied S&P 500 index returns from April to December along with past NCAA Tournament champions to see if there’s any correlation between the two.
 
The research found that the market has consistently had positive annual returns when the NCAA Tournament champion has come from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). That’s happened 11 times. The S&P 500 has gone on to have a positive return the rest of the year in each of those instances. The median return from April to December when the champion is an SEC team is 9.56 percent.3
 
The market has also had positive returns at least 75 percent of the time when the champion has come from the ACC, Pac-12 or Big East. The ACC and Pac-12 have produced the most champions, with each conference winning 16 times. During years in which the ACC has won, the market had a positive return 75 percent of the time, with a median return of 9.59 percent. When the Pac-12 wins, the market has been positive 88 percent of the time, with a median return of 8.91 percent.3
 
When does the S&P 500 have a negative return from April to December? When the NCAA Tournament winner comes from the Big Ten Conference. In those years, the market has been positive only 36 percent of the time, with a median return of -4.76 percent.3

Coincidence Isn’t the Same Thing as Correlation 
​
Of course, just because these patterns exist doesn’t mean there’s an actual correlation between the tournament winner and the returns of the market. There’s no factor tying the championship outcome to the S&P 500, so these patterns are entirely coincidental. They shouldn’t be used to try to make any kind of market predictions.
 
If you want to stabilize your investment performance and reduce volatility, there are other steps you can take besides relying on the outcome of a basketball tournament. Below are a few steps to consider:
 
Review your allocation. As you get older and approach retirement, it’s natural to become less tolerant of risk. You may not be able to stomach the ups and downs of the market like you used to. That’s understandable. After all, you’ll need to rely on those savings for income in the near future.
 
Now could be a good time to review your allocation with your financial professional. It’s possible that your current allocation isn’t right for your goals, needs and risk tolerance.
 
Rebalance. The market moves up and down, but not all asset classes move in the same direction at the same time. As some asset classes increase in value, others decline. That means your actual allocation is always in a state of flux. Over time, it may become far different than your desired allocation.
 
It’s helpful to regularly rebalance your portfolio so it always adjusts back to your target allocation. When you rebalance, you sell some of the assets that have increased in value and buy those that have declined. That can help you lock in gains and stay aligned with your desired strategy.
 
Use an annuity. An annuity can be an effective tool to potentially increase your assets but also limit downside risk. For example, a fixed indexed annuity pays an interest rate based on the performance of an index, like the S&P 500. The better the index performs over a defined period, the higher your rate. If it performs poorly, you may get little or no interest.
 
In a fixed indexed annuity, however, your principal is guaranteed*. There’s no risk of loss due to market performance. That means you get upside potential without the volatility.
 
Want to take steps to make your portfolio less volatile? Don’t look toward coincidental trends. Instead, implement a thoughtful strategy. Contact us today at Senior Care Alliance. We can help you review your portfolio and find areas for improvement. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation.
 
1https://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/03/duke-math-professor-says-odds-of-a-perfect-bracket-are-one-in-2-4-trillion
2https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/bracketiq/2018-03-26/54-ncaa-brackets-correctly-predicted-final-four
3https://www.schaeffersresearch.com/content/analysis/2017/03/23/march-madness-indicator-why-the-stock-market-should-root-for-kentucky
 
*Guarantees, including optional benefits, are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuer, and may contain limitations, including surrender charges, which may affect policy values.
 
Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
 
18583 - 2019/2/27

​The deadline for filing your 2018 tax return is right around the corner. Have you filed your return yet? If so, were you satisfied with the outcome? Or were you surprised by how much you paid in taxes last year?
 
The recent tax law dramatically changed the tax code. For many Americans, the law means reduced taxes. If you don’t plan accordingly, however, it’s possible that you could owe money to the IRS after your filing. It’s also possible that you could pay more in taxes than necessary.

Now is a great time to review your strategy and identify action steps that could reduce your tax exposure. If you haven’t reviewed your financial plan recently, you may be missing out on a number of tax-efficient tools and products. Below are a few tips to consider as you review your taxes:

Review your deductions. 

One of the biggest changes of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is the elimination and reduction of a wide range of deductions. Most itemized deductions were eliminated, including those for alimony payments and interest on many types of home equity loans. Caps were also implemented for state, local and property tax deductions. The law also eliminated personal exemptions.1
 
To make up for these changes, the law more than doubled the standard deduction.1 For many people, that means it will be more advantageous to take the standard deduction than to itemize deductions. If you’ve planned your spending based on the ability to itemize and deduct certain expenses, you may want to reconsider your strategy. Those deductions may no longer be allowed under the new law.

Check your withholding amount. 

The law also reduced tax rates across the board and changed the income brackets for each rate level. As a result, many employers adjusted their withholding amounts. Not all did, however. And some may have adjusted their withholdings incorrectly.
 
In fact, according to a study from the Government Accountability Office, 30 million people, or just over 20 percent of taxpayers, are not withholding enough money from their paychecks to cover taxes.2 Are you part of that group? If you’re not sure, talk to your financial professional about whether you should increase your withholdings.

Maximize your tax-deferred savings. 

Tax deferral is a great way to reduce current taxes and save for the future. In a tax-deferred account, you don’t pay taxes on growth in the current year as long as your money stays in the account. You may face taxes in the future when you take a distribution.
 
Many qualified retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans and IRAs, offer tax-deferred growth. In 2019 you can contribute up to $19,000 to your 401(k), plus an additional $6,000 if you are age 50 or older. You can put as much as $6,000 into an IRA, or up to $7,000 if you’re 50 or older.3
 
Want more tax deferral beyond your 401(k) and IRA? Consider a deferred annuity. Annuities offer tax-deferred growth. They also offer a variety of ways to increase your assets. Some pay a fixed interest rate and have no downside risk. Others let you participate in the financial markets according to your risk tolerance and goals. A financial professional can help you find the right annuity for your strategy.

Develop sources of tax-efficient retirement income. 

Taxes don’t stop when you quit working. If you’re approaching retirement, now may be the time to plan ahead and minimize your future tax exposure. You can take steps today to create tax-efficient income for your retirement.

For example, distributions from a Roth IRA are tax-free assuming you’re over age 59½. You may want to start contributing to a Roth or even consider converting your traditional IRA into a Roth.
 
You can also use a permanent life insurance policy as a source of tax-efficient income. You can withdraw your premiums from your life insurance cash value tax-free. Also, loans from life insurance policies are tax-free distributions. You may want to discuss with your financial professional how life insurance could reduce your future taxes in retirement.

Ready to take control of your tax strategy in 2019? Let’s talk about it. Contact us today at Senior Care Alliance. We can help you analyze your needs and implement a plan. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation.
 
1https://www.thebalance.com/trump-s-tax-plan-how-it-affects-you-4113968
2https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/01/30-million-americans-are-not-withholding-enough-pay-for-taxes.html
3https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/01/heres-how-much-you-can-sock-away-toward-retirement-in-2019.html
 
Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
 
18582 - 2019/2/27
 

​Worried about the direction the financial markets have taken over the past few months? You’re not alone. After nine consecutive years of growth, the markets ended 2018 on a down note. The S&P 500 finished the year down more than 6 percent, the first time it has ever finished a year negative after being positive through the first three quarters.1
 
In fact, some indexes have already entered bear market territory. The Nasdaq dropped more than 23 percent from its Aug. 29 high. The Wilshire 5000 and Russell 2000 also dropped more than 20 percent from their respective peaks in early September.1
 
If you’re approaching retirement, these losses could be stressful. When you’re younger and just starting your career, you have time to absorb losses and recover. That may not be the case if you’re only a few years from retirement. You’ll soon need to use your assets to generate income. A substantial decline may force you to delay retirement or make cuts to your planned lifestyle.
 
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your nest egg and your retirement. Below are three tools that can help you reduce your exposure to downside risk. Talk to your financial professional to see how these may play a role in your financial strategy.

Fixed Indexed Annuity 

When it comes to investing, risk and return usually go hand in hand. Those assets that offer the most potential return often come with the highest exposure to risk. Assets that have little risk also offer little potential growth. It’s difficult to find growth opportunities that don’t have downside market risk.
 
There are some tools available, though. One is a fixed indexed annuity. In a fixed indexed annuity, allows your money the potential to grow on a tax-deferred basis. The potential growth comes in the form of interest credited to the contract typically annually.
 
Your interest credited each year is based on the return of a specific external index, like the S&P 500. The better the index performs in a given period, the higher the potential for the interest credits, up to a certain limit. If the index performs poorly, you may receive less or zero interest, but your contract won’t decline in value.
 
Fixed indexed annuities have guarantees* on the value of the contract. That means you’ll never lose premium because of market declines. A fixed indexed annuity could be an effective way to plan for retirement income without exposing yourself to market risk.

Deferred Income Annuity 

Are you concerned about your ability to generate retirement income in the future? Or are you worried that your retirement income isn’t guaranteed*? A deferred income annuity, also known as a longevity annuity, could be an effective option.
 
With a deferred income annuity, you contribute a lump-sum amount and pick a date in the future to begin receiving income. At the specified time, the annuity company will begin paying you an income stream that’s guaranteed* for life, no matter how long you live. Work with your financial professional to project your income and see if a deferred income annuity can help you fill any gaps.

Life Insurance 
​
You’ve probably purchased life insurance at some point in your life with the goal of protecting your spouse, children or other loved ones. Life insurance is a highly effective protection tool, but it can also do more.
 
Some life insurance policies have a cash value account. Each time you make a premium payment, a portion goes into the cash value. Those funds grow on a tax-deferred basis over time. The growth usually comes in the form of dividends or interest, depending on the policy. You can also use the life insurance policy to generate tax-free income in retirement via loans or withdrawals.
 
If you have a life insurance policy, you may want to explore how you can use it to achieve low-risk, tax-deferred growth and possibly create supplemental income in the future. Or you may want to look at new policies and see how they can help you protect your assets.
 
Ready to protect your nest egg? Let’s talk about it. Contact us at Senior Care Alliance. We can help you analyze your needs and develop a plan. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation.
 
1https://www.nasdaq.com/article/is-a-recession-coming-heres-how-to-survive-cm1081931
 
*Guarantees, including optional benefits, are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuer, and may contain limitations, including surrender charges, which may affect policy values.
 
Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
 
18412 - 2019/1/16

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a day for romance and reconnection. For many couples, however, this time of year could be marked by disagreements about money. Nearly half of all married couples argue about financial issues.1
 
With the new year just starting and tax season right around the corner, many people use this time to evaluate their spending, earnings and financial performance over the previous year. That analysis could reopen sore spots about money management.
 
The performance of the financial markets over the past few months could also be a source for disagreement among couples, especially those who have differing investment styles. After starting strong for the first three quarters of the year, the S&P 500 finished with an epic meltdown in the fourth quarter. The index ended the year down 7 percent, the first time in history it’s finished the year negative after being positive for the first three quarters.2
 
Do you and your spouse disagree about investing styles? Does one of you take a more aggressive stance while the other prefers to play it safe? Below are a few helpful tips on how you and your spouse can meet in the middle and get past your investment-related disagreements:
​
Draft an investment policy statement. 

Many couples disagree about their investment approach because they’ve never developed a formal investment strategy. They generally know they want to save for retirement, but they’ve never discussed their specific objectives or tactics. An investment policy statement does just that.
 
Your investment policy statement is a written document that states your goals, acceptable risks and the steps you will take to reach your objectives. It outlines which types of investments are appropriate for your strategy and which are not. You can use your investment policy statement as a guide for making future decisions.
 
The process of developing the investment policy statement could be beneficial for many couples. You’re forced to share your differing opinions and compromise to reach a strategy. Those conversations could help you work out differences and find areas where you agree, which could diffuse future arguments.

Develop a retirement income plan. 

Often, arguments are fueled by uncertainty about the future. You’re unsure of when you’ll be able to retire or how much more you need to save, so that heightens your anxiety and sharpens disagreements. You may be able to avoid arguments by eliminating the uncertainty.
 
Work with your financial professional to develop a retirement income plan. You can project your future retirement income from sources such as Social Security, an employer pension and even your own savings. You can also build a retirement budget to estimate your spending. These two projections should give you an idea of how close you are to reaching your goals, how much more you need to save and how much risk you should take to achieve growth.

Don’t avoid the conversation. 

Have you and your spouse agreed to disagree about your differing investment styles? Do you avoid the conversation? Or do you go it alone with your individual accounts so you don’t have to discuss issues that may lead to disagreement?
 
While you may not want to disagree or argue, it’s also not helpful to avoid the conversation. If you each have differing styles and don’t have a cohesive plan, you could be missing out on opportunity.
 
For example, assume your spouse is aggressive with his or her investment style and takes on a substantial amount of risk. Perhaps you’re conservative and choose assets that offer little return potential but also have little chance of loss. You may feel that the “go it alone” approach works because you each invest according to your comfort level and you avoid arguments.

By avoiding the conversation, however, you may be missing out on opportunities to meet in the middle and achieve better performance. For example, you could find an allocation that has growth potential and reduced risk. You could use tools such as annuities that offer growth without downside exposure. The only way to find these opportunities is to discuss your differing approaches and look for middle ground.

Work with a professional. 
​
Finally, you may find it helpful to bring in a third party, like a financial professional. They can give objective, impartial feedback and also provide information and analysis that may change your approach. They can also help you develop a retirement strategy and an investment policy statement to guide your decision-making.
 
Ready to overcome your investment disagreements with your spouse? Let’s talk about it. Contact us today at Senior Care Alliance. We can help you analyze your needs and implement a plan. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation.
 
1https://nypost.com/2017/08/03/the-reasons-most-couples-argue-about-money/
2https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/31/the-sp-500-will-make-history-when-it-ends-the-year-with-a-loss.html
 
Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
 
18408 - 2019/1/14

It’s that time again. A new year is here, which means a volatile 2018 is in the rearview mirror. The markets suffered a steep drop at the end of last year after climbing steadily through the first three quarters. A number of factors contributed to the markets’ fourth-quarter tumble, including tariffs, interest rate hikes and trouble in the tech sector.
 
A new year doesn’t mean those challenges are gone, but it does represent a fresh start. And if history is any guide, January can be a strong month for investors. According to a study from LPL Research, in the 68 years from 1950 through 2017, January has been a positive month for the S&P 500 41 times. It’s been negative 27 times.1
 
As any investor knows, history doesn’t guarantee future performance. However, there does seem to be a correlation between market performance in January and the rest of the year.
​
How do January returns impact the rest of the year?
 
According to LPL Research, there’s a relationship between January returns and market returns over the remainder of the year. Its research showed that during years in which there was a positive January return, the market had an average return of 12.2 percent over the next 11 months. When the January return was negative, the S&P 500 returned only 1.2 percent the rest of the year.1
 
If January returns are more than 5 percent, the correlation is even more pronounced. In those years, the market had an average return of 15.8 percent over the next 11 months. In fact, when January has a return of more than 5 percent, the rest of the year is positive 91.7 percent of the time.1

What is the January effect?
 
Why has January been positive more often than not? And why does January’s return seem to impact the rest of the year? There are no definitive answers to these questions, but there are theories.

There’s an idea called the “January effect,” which suggests that January returns may be the product of tax strategy. Investors sell stocks in December to harvest tax losses before the end of the year. That depresses prices and creates a buying opportunity in January. Because investors sold at the end of the year, there’s cash on the table to buy in the beginning of the next year.
 
Of course, this is just a theory. There’s no way to conclusively prove whether the January effect is a real phenomenon. Even if it could be proved, it’s never wise to change your long-term investment strategy based on short-term opportunities.
 
If you’re concerned about the volatility in 2018 or the coming year, now is a great time to meet with a financial professional. They can help you review your strategy and possibly make changes that reduce your risk exposure and allow you to take advantage of opportunities.
 
Ready to evaluate your investment strategy? Let’s talk about it. Contact us today at Senior Care Alliance. We can help you analyze your needs and goals and implement a plan. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation.
 
1https://www.thestreet.com/story/14469889/1/stock-market-s-strong-january-performance-bodes-well-for-the-rest-of-the-year.html
 
Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
 
18345 - 2018/12/31

A new year is here, and with it comes a flood of year-end tax documents like W-2s, 1099s and others. Before you know it, the April 15 tax filing deadline will be upon us, and it will be time to submit your return.

It’s always wise to meet with your financial professional at the beginning of the year. It gives you an opportunity to discuss the past year, your goals for the coming year and your tax strategy. However, a consultation with your financial professional could be especially helpful this year.
 
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law in late 2017 by President Trump. While some of its changes went into effect last year, 2018 was the first full calendar year under the new law. The return you file in April will likely be the first that reflects much of the law’s changes. Below are a few of the biggest changes and how they could affect your return:
​
Increased Standard Deduction
 
The new tax law impacted a wide range of credits and deductions, from the deduction of medical expenses to credits for child care. Those who itemize deductions may have felt the brunt of these changes.
 
However, the tax law significantly increased the standard deduction. In 2017 the standard deduction was $6,350 for single filers and $12,700 for married couples. The new law increased those numbers to $12,000 and $24,000, respectively.1
 
Given the changes to itemized deductions and the increased standard deduction, you may want to consult with a financial or tax professional before you file your return. If you’ve traditionally itemized deductions in the past, that may no longer make sense.

New Tax Brackets
 
The new tax law also made significant changes to the tax brackets. There are still seven different brackets, just as there were before the passage of the law. And the lowest rate is still 10 percent. The top income tax rate is down to 37 percent, however, from 39.6 percent.2 There are similar cuts throughout the rest of the brackets as well.
 
The law also made changes to the income levels for each bracket. Generally, the bracket levels were increased throughout the tax code, which means you have to earn more before moving into a higher bracket. Under the old tax code, for example, a married couple earning $250,000 would be in the 33 percent bracket. Under the new law, that same couple would be in the 24 percent bracket. A single individual earning $80,000 would be in the 28 percent bracket under the old law but is now in the 22 percent bracket.2

Itemized Deduction Changes
 
As mentioned, the new tax law increased the standard deduction amounts. However, those increases came at the expense of many itemized deductions. The new law eliminated or reduced many common deductions, including those for state and local taxes, real estate taxes, mortgage and home equity loan interest, and even fees to accountants and other advisers.
 
However, there could be other opportunities to boost your itemized deductions above the standard deduction level. Charitable donations are still deductible, as are medical expenses assuming they exceed the 7.5 percent threshold. If you’re a business owner, you can deduct many of your expenses, including up to 20 percent of your income assuming you meet earnings thresholds.3
 
Ready to develop your tax strategy? Let’s connect soon and talk about taxes and your entire financial picture. Contact us today at Senior Care Alliance. We can help you analyze your needs and goals and implement a plan.
 
1https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/taxes/standard-deduction/
2https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/irs/tax-reform/new-tax-brackets/
3https://money.usnews.com/investing/investing-101/articles/know-these-6-federal-tax-changes-to-avoid-a-surprise-in-2019
 
Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
 
18326 - 2018/12/26

​The holiday season is here, and that means it’s time to find the perfect gifts for your family and friends. However, this could also be the perfect time to give a gift to yourself. While it might be nice to give yourself the latest gadget, consider a gift that will have a much more lasting impact. For example, you could give yourself financial peace of mind. According to a new study, you might be able to obtain it simply by changing your mindset.
 
A study from Wells Fargo recently found that those individuals who have a planning mindset are more likely to describe themselves as thriving in both their financial life and overall life. They’re also 42 percent less likely to have high levels of financial stress and, on average, have 3.1 times more in retirement savings than those who do not have a planning mindset.1
 
So what is a planning mindset, and how do you obtain it? Below are the four key criteria identified by the study as the characteristics of those with a planning mindset. If these characteristics don’t sound familiar to you, it might be time to reassess your financial mindset.

Set financial goals. 

Individuals who have a planning mindset are in the habit of setting goals for themselves. Think about the past six months. Have you set any financial goals for yourself in that period of time? Have you actively pursued those goals?
 
If not, there’s no time like the present to become goal-oriented. You could even start with something small, like paying off a credit card balance or reaching a target in emergency savings. Pick something to get yourself in the habit of setting and pursuing financial goals.

Work towards a big long-term objective. 

Modest short-term goals are important, but long-term goals are also critical. You may have general long-term goals such as retiring in the future or paying for your child’s education.
 
However, it’s helpful to make those long-term goals specific. Work with a financial professional to determine exactly how much you need to save to pay for your child’s education or to fund a comfortable retirement. Once you estimate the cost of your goal, you can then develop an action plan to make your long-term goal a reality.

Shore up your immediate financial future. 

It’s often hard to focus on long-term goals when you have stress and anxiety about the present. You may be concerned about more pressing issues such as paying your bills on a monthly basis or tackling debt.
 
Individuals with a planning mindset are comfortable with their financial situation in the near term, which allows them to focus on longer-term goals. Again, a financial professional can help you develop a plan to overcome your near-term financial challenges. Perhaps you need to bolster your emergency savings. You might benefit from using a budget. Once you feel more comfortable in the short term, you can start focusing on large long-term objectives.

Save for retirement today. 

Retirement is a major financial challenge for most people. In fact, nearly 60 percent of Americans are concerned that they won’t have enough money to fund a comfortable retirement.2
 
However, individuals with a planning mindset know that saving today is always a wiser strategy than putting retirement off for the future. Even if you can save only a modest amount toward retirement, that’s still better than not saving at all. Time is the most powerful tool at your disposal. If you contribute money now, you give those funds the opportunity to grow and compound over a long period of time, which can help you accumulate more assets before retirement.
 
Ready to adopt a planning mindset in 2019? Let’s talk about it. Contact us today at Senior Care Alliance. We can help you establish goals and develop an action plan. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation.
 
1https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181114005575/en
2https://news.gallup.com/poll/233642/paying-medical-crises-retirement-lead-financial-fears.aspx
 
Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
 
18280 - 2018/11/28

Thinking of giving to charity this holiday season? You’re not alone. For many people, the holiday season is also the giving season. Perhaps you’re going to donate old items such as clothes, toys or furniture. Or maybe you’d like to donate your time and volunteer with your favorite charity.
 
Of course, you may be considering a much more sizable donation, like a significant amount of assets. A monetary donation to a charity can obviously be helpful for the organization. It can also provide you with important tax benefits. And you get the benefit of seeing how your donation can help others.
 
Before you write a check, though, you may want to meet with a financial professional. You can give money or assets to a charity in a variety of ways. The right strategy depends on your needs and goals. Below are a few ways you can donate to your favorite charity:

Annual Donations

Perhaps the simplest approach is to write a check to your favorite charity each year. This strategy is straightforward, and it gets the funds to the charity in the quickest way possible. You also may be able to deduct your donation from your taxes.
 
Talk to a tax professional before you do this, though. There are caps on how much you can deduct as a charitable gift. You also may be able to carry forward some of your gift as a deduction in future years. If you’re contributing assets like securities instead of cash, the deduction rules can be somewhat complicated. A financial professional can help you develop the right strategy.

Life Insurance

Do you have a permanent life insurance policy that you no longer need? You could stop paying the premiums, surrender the policy and take the cash value as a lump sum. However, that would create a taxable event.
 
An alternative is to donate your policy to charity. You simply transfer the policy to the charity, which becomes the owner and beneficiary. Upon your death, the death benefit is paid to the charitable organization. The policy also continues to build tax-deferred cash value.
 
When you transfer ownership of the policy to the charity, you may be able to deduct your past premium payments from your current tax return. You also may be able to deduct any future premium payments that you make. You get a current tax benefit, and the charity gets a sizable donation in the future.

Charitable Trust

Perhaps you want to leave part of your estate to a favorite charity. One way to do this is with a charitable remainder trust. You set up a trust for the benefit of your charity and then transfer assets into the trust. The trust then manages those assets and possibly even sells them for diversification purposes. Because the trust is meant for charity, you avoid any taxes related to gains.
 
The trust invests the assets to generate income, which it pays to you for the remainder of your life. When you pass away, the trust distributes the assets to the charity according to your instructions. A charitable trust can be a powerful gifting tool, but it can also be complex. A financial professional can help you determine if it’s right for you.
 
Ready to develop your gifting strategy? Let’s talk about it. Contact us today at Senior Care Alliance. We can help you analyze your needs and implement a plan. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation.
 
Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
 
18276 - 2018/11/27

​Long-term care is a very real threat for many retirees. Driven largely by the rise of Alzheimer’s and other cognitive conditions, long-term care is a likely outcome for most seniors. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 70 percent of today’s 65-year-olds will need long-term care at some point in their lives.1
 
The threat of long-term care may loom even larger for women, though. Much of the risk stems from the fact that women are likely to live longer in retirement than men. The Society of Actuaries estimates that a 65-year-old woman has a 50 percent chance of living to age 90 and a 25 percent chance of living to 96. A 65-year-old man, on the other hand, has the same odds of living to 87 and 92, respectively.2
 
A longer life span is always a good thing. However, it can bring certain challenges. One is that a longer life span means more years in retirement. Those years may need to be funded with distributions from your savings, which means you’ll need to make your savings last over a longer period of time. You could face financial difficulties in the later years.

A longer life span could also mean you’ll face more serious health challenges. As you age, you may be more likely to suffer cognitive issues, cancer, heart disease or a wide range of other issues.
 
Longevity can also influence your long-term care needs. Below are a few long-term care challenges that are specific to women. If you don’t have a long-term care strategy, now may be the time to develop one. A financial professional can help you examine your risk and create a plan.

Women are more likely to live alone in retirement.
 
It naturally follows that since most women outlive men, women are also more likely than men to live alone in retirement. Recent studies by Pew Research show that 32 percent of all women over the age of 65 live alone. While that’s down from a high of 38 percent, it’s still much higher than the 18 percent of men in that age group who live alone.3
 
Living alone can have a big impact on long-term care. Married couples are able to rely on each other for the early stages of care. That can delay the need to hire an in-home aide or even move into a facility.

A single or widowed retiree may not have that option. If you need help with mobility, meal preparation or even household chores, you may need to hire someone to do it. If you get to the point where you need assistance regularly, you may have no choice but to consider a facility.

Women need care longer than men.
 
Another natural result of longevity is the need for more care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that the average woman will need long-term care for 3.7 years, while the average man will need care for 2.2 years.1
 
According to a study by Genworth, the average monthly cost in 2018 for a full-time home health aide or a room in an assisted living facility was $4,000.4 That means the extra 1.5 years on average spent in long-term care could cost a woman an additional $72,000 over her male counterpart’s costs.
 
It’s important to note that Medicare often doesn’t cover this care. It may cover portions that are related to skilled nursing care and medical treatment, but even that coverage is usually partial and temporary. You may want to consider a long-term care insurance policy to fund the portion of care that isn’t covered by Medicare.

Women are more likely to care for others.
 
Even if you don’t need care in retirement, you may be called on to care for others. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, 66 percent of all caregivers are female, and these caregivers provide 50 percent more care in terms of hours than their male counterparts.5
 
This care can have an impact on your finances and your health. Women are more likely than men to work fewer hours, pass up a promotion and even retire early because of caregiving. A female caregiver is also more likely to suffer from heart disease and cognitive issues and to skip regular wellness checkups and exams.5
 
It’s important not only for you to have a long-term care strategy, but also for your spouse to have one. If he doesn’t, you may become his long-term care provider by default. That could have a sizable impact on your retirement and your future health.

Ready to plan your long-term care strategy? Let’s talk about it. Contact us today at Senior Care Alliance. We can help you analyze your needs and implement a plan. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation.
 
1https://longtermcare.acl.gov/the-basics/how-much-care-will-you-need.html
2https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/retirement/longevity
3http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2016/02/18/smaller-share-of-women-ages-65-and-older-are-living-alone/
4https://www.genworth.com/aging-and-you/finances/cost-of-care.html
5https://www.caregiver.org/women-and-caregiving-facts-and-figures
 
Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
18148 - 2018/10/17

​

​Social Security recently announced good news for retirees. In 2019, benefits will increase 2.8 percent. That’s the largest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in more than a decade. Last year benefits increased only 2 percent, and they didn’t increase at all in 2010, 2011 or 2016.1
 
Cost-of-living adjustments are meant to help retirees cope with inflation. Inflation is a natural part of the economy. As the economy expands, costs for labor, materials and other resources tend to increase. That drives up prices for a wide range of goods and services. While inflation isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can be dangerous for seniors on fixed incomes.
 
That’s where COLA comes in. Social Security offers COLAs to help seniors keep up with inflation and maintain their standard of living. The cost-of-living adjustments are based on a broad version of the consumer price index (CPI). However, there’s been debate about whether Social Security’s formula is actually appropriate.

Why COLA May Not Be Accurate for Retirees
 
There are a couple of reasons why you shouldn’t count on a COLA to help you keep up with inflation. First is the way in which COLA is calculated. Social Security uses the CPI-W as an inflation index. The CPI-W is based on expenses for urban workers.
 
Retirees have different expenses than workers, though. Many retirees spend much more of their income on health care than the average worker does. They also may face increased costs for housing, especially if they’re staying in an assisted living facility. The CPI-W doesn’t account for this increased spending on health care and housing, so the inflation rate may not be appropriate for retirees.
 
Also, Social Security probably doesn’t cover all your retirement spending. After next year’s increase, the average Social Security benefit will be $1,461 per month.2 While that’s a helpful amount, it’s probably not enough to fund your entire retirement. That means you’ll also need to increase your other income streams to fully keep up with inflation.

Tips to Plan for Inflation
 
There are a number of strategies you can implement to increase your income and keep pace with inflation. One is to stick with a long-term plan and remember that you’ll need growth to fund a long retirement. Work with your financial professional to develop a strategy that minimizes risk but also allows for growth to increase your income.
 
You could also use annuities, which are effective tools for creating guaranteed* lifetime income streams. Some offer inflation protection so your income increases each year. Others, like variable annuities, allow you to grow your assets and lock in gains, and then take guaranteed* income for life.
 
A long-term care insurance policy with an inflation rider could also be helpful. The costs of long-term care are rising every year. An insurance policy with an inflation rider will increase your benefit so it keeps pace with rising costs. When you need long-term care, the insurer will pay some or all of the expense.

Ready to develop your retirement inflation strategy? Let’s talk about it. Contact us at Senior Care Alliance today. We can help you analyze your needs and implement a plan. Let’s connect soon and start the conversation.
 
1https://www.ssa.gov/cola/
2https://www.fool.com/retirement/2018/10/16/heres-the-average-social-security-benefit-for-2019.aspx
 
*Guarantees, including optional benefits, are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuer, and may contain limitations, including surrender charges, which may affect policy values.
Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
18149 - 2018/10/17